24 reasons why I love Christmas

//This blogpost was originally published in 2014, in the first years of this blog when it was still called yoursecretgirl.com, and thought to be lost. I re-found it and decided to re-share. Hope you get to feel a little bit more Christmassy this week with this list of mine. Happy Holidays!

December, my favorite month of the year has arrived and I couldn’t be more excited! I started it by taking my first of 3 college exams I hope to be the last of my degree and it went well. How do things really work out when we prepare in advance and with organization, isn’t that right? So grateful for that now!

But let’s go to what matters: this week. to kick off this magical month in a big way, I decided to share with you 24 reasons why I love this time of year. Who knows you won’t find one you love too!

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1. The lights and decorations all around
2. The Advent Calendars
3. Torcidos (2023 note: recipe to come, PS: come back on December 25th 😉)
4. The Portuguese french toasts (2023 note: my mom’s recipe is the best and I too have perfected my own special healthier oven version, would you like me to share them? Perfect for people who struggle with stomach sensibility issues like acid reflux around this time)
5. “Sonhos de Cenoura” (Portuguese Carrot fried pastries) from my grandma (2023: another recipe that deserves its presence here)
6. Christmas Day at my uncle and aunt’s house with the whole family (2023 note: 9 years later I’m the one hosting and we still keep the tradition to try to get everyone together, it still is my favorite part of Christmas, I’m tearing up here just from thinking. #ThankYouPregnancyHormones #ButIReallyLoveChristmas)
7. Home Alone movies
8. My godson’s reaction to Santa (2023 note: now, it’s my son’s, still magical, but I’m not sure we are going to be able to get Santa in and out again this year without him calling him “dad!” – who knew 2-year-olds would notice Santa and dad have the same shoes ;))
9. An excuse to drink Hot Coca (almost) every day
10. The long talks at the table at my dad’s (2023 note: now at our table, but still the same until the sun sets and grandpas have to go)
11. All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey
12. Christmas sweaters (I will have one, one day!) (2023 update: have several, but still gladly welcome more whenever gifted! :D)
13. The house decorated
14. Listen to Christmas songs on the radio
15. People wishing Happy Holidays on the street
16. Lisbon Christmas decorations
17. O Presépio de Alenquer, Alenquer’s Nativity Scene, this year with an agenda of events worth checking (2023 note: 9 years later, Alenquer’s is one of the best places to visit around Lisbon on Christmas time, especially if you have kids, the theme park is full of activities for the little ones, we spent this Sunday there with baby T and he loved it! And I’m proud to, 9 years later, call this town home)
18. The shopfronts decorated
19. Christmas movies
20. Getting the tree up
21. Seeing photos of places covered in snow around this time of year
22. Be able to gift small presents to loved ones and watch their reaction
23. Bolo-rei/rainha (Portuguese Christmas Kings cake)
24. Red, green, and gold everywhere.

What about you? What do you love more in this season?